Detroit Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew wants to improve after taking a 'step back last year'

"That's on me. I put that on myself. I blame myself. It's my problem to fix." - Brandon Pettigrew

Detroit Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew was disappointed with his performance in 2012.AP File Photo

ALLEN PARK -- Detroit Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew stood in front of his locker after practice and refused to make excuses.

Pettigrew was a first-round draft pick by the Lions in 2009, and has compiled 2,412 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in his career. He has finished second in team receptions (behind Calvin Johnson) the past three seasons. In addition, Pettigrew started in 43 games over the past three years.

However, Pettigrew admitted he was disappointed with his performance last season after organized team activities (OTAs) wrapped up today.

"I definitely took a step back last year," Pettigrew said. "Kind of dinged up a little bit. Being in there, you're still expected to make the plays. Personally, I think I took a step back last year. It's time to get back to it, to what we had built a year before (10-6 playoff season in 2011), just being a better player."

The first stat that jumps out is Pettigrew's 59 receptions for 567 yards and three touchdowns in 2012. Pettigrew had 83 receptions for 777 yards and five touchdowns in 2011, and 71 catches for 722 yards and four touchdowns in 2010.

What is more disturbing for Pettigrew, and Lions fans, is ProFootballFocus.com credited him with nine drops last season, which was tied for third most in the NFL. New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham led the league with 15 drops, followed by New England's Aaron Hernandez (10), while Green Bay's Jermichael Finley, San Francisco's Delanie Walker and Pettigrew each had nine.

Pettigrew was also stripped twice during crucial moments last season.

He was stripped by Texans safety Danieal Manning on Houston's 32-yard line in overtime, which negated Detroit's chances of setting up a potential game-winning score. Pettigrew was also stripped by Tennessee Titans' Alterraun Verner late in the fourth quarter of a 44-41 overtime loss. That turnover was returned 72 yards for a touchdown.

Pettigrew remains frustrated about those miscues.

"I can't put what I did on anybody else," Pettigrew said. "I took it upon myself to fix the drops, the missed blocks, the plays that weren't made, the fumbles. That's on me. I put that on myself. I blame myself. It's my problem to fix."

Fixing those issues has been Pettigrew's main focus this offseason.

Pettigrew, who is entering the final year on his contract, has dropped 10 pounds (265 to 255) in an effort to add more quickness this season. He has also worked with tight ends coach Bobby Johnson to become a fundamentally sound player.

"Get back to the fundamentals," Pettigrew said. "Do the little things right. I'm really critical of myself. (I am) just paying more attention to my weaknesses. Coach Johnson tells me, pay more attention to your weaknesses and not what you're already good at. That's what I'm trying to do right now."